One of the most common orthopedic injuries – particularly among athletes – is a torn ligament of the ankle, knee, wrist, thumb, neck, or back.
Although a ligament is a flexible and durable band of fibrous tissue providing support for a joint and regulating its movement, it is still vulnerable to injury due to a sudden impact or the twisting or overstretching of the joint. The result is joint pain and/or swelling, limited mobility, or the inability to bear weight on the affected joint, depending on the severity of the partial or total ligament tear.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways in which a certified orthopedist or sports medicine doctor can treat a torn ligament that doesn’t necessarily require surgery.
Treatment Options for a Torn Ligament
Before diagnosing and addressing a torn ligament, your doctor will conduct a physical examination of the injured area, considering its location, the severity of your pain, and how the injury occurred. The affected joint will also be tested by asking you to flex and bend it to gauge your ability to move it or bear weight. Imaging tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI, may be ordered to confirm whether you have sustained a torn ligament, as opposed to a fracture.
Although some torn ligaments heal on their own over time, more serious cases may require professional treatment. Depending on whether yours is a minor or major tear, therapeutic options include:
- First aid – Often, during the first 72 hours of a ligament-related injury, applying ice to the injured joint regularly and using a brace or bandage for support can help easethe pain and swelling. Also, if the injury involves your ankle or knee, you will be advised to stay off your feet and elevate the affected limb. In the meantime, your doctor may recommend the use of crutches to help keep weight off the injured ankle or knee.
- Medication – If you are experiencingmild to moderate pain and swelling, yourdoctormay recommend over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen or the short-term use of prescription medication. If, however, you are in extreme pain, your doctor may inject steroid medication into the injured area to relieve the pain and inflammation.
- Physical Therapy – In order to regain full range of motion following a torn ligament injury, you may need to see a physical therapist a few days per week. In many cases, patients with torn ligaments are given specific exercises to perform at home to hasten and complete their recovery.
- Surgery–In the case of a severe ligament injury, such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear of the knee, surgery may be required to remove the damaged ligament and replace it with a healthy tendon that will grow a new ligament in its place. For example, a tendon from a kneecap or hamstring from the patient or an organ donor can be grafted to hold the knee joint together. Following ACL surgery, you will need to undergo physical therapy to assist in your recovery.
The recovery period from a torn ligament will vary depending on the extent of the injury. Minor tears with miniscule damage typically take up to six weeks to totally heal, provided you don’t exert the joint. Major ligament tears, especially those that require surgery and/or physical therapy, will take longer to heal, which is why it is important to strictly follow your surgeon’s post-surgical instructions.
Torn Ligament Treatment in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The board-certified providers at Midwest Orthopaedics specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ligament tears and are specially trained in all aspects of general orthopedics and sports medicine. In addition to providing conservative solutions to minor ligament and tendon tears, our highly skilled surgeons perform surgical joint procedures when necessary and also prescribe a customized physical therapy program to improve strength, endurance, mobility, and overall physical condition.
To learn more about the highest quality orthopedic care in the Kansas City metropolitan area, call our office today at (913) 362-8317 or use our convenient online form to request an appointment.
